It had been a month since Trigon attacked Zatanna. Pretty much the entire team knew about Artemis and Zatanna, except for Robin. No one had been able to get ahold of him in a long time. Everyone suspected Batman knew where he was, and he just wasn't sharing.
"Hey did you guys hear that Bruce Wayne is having a banquet honoring the Justice League this Saturday?" asked Wally from across the room while making an army of sandwiches. "My Uncle Barry told me we're all invited."
"Pass." Said Superboy and Artemis at the same time. They both looked at each other and chuckled.
"Oh come on! It'll be fun!" pleaded Zatanna.
"Connor, you're going." Said M'Gann sternly, yet playfully, making him laugh and give in.
"Are we invited as our alter egos, or simply as guests?" asked Kaldur.
"Probably just as guests. I mean, let's be honest, no one wants to go to a party to honor a bunch of teenagers." Reasoned Wally.
"Fair enough." Said Artemis.
"I don't know where the others are and I don't really care enough to find them, so just let them know if you see them." Said Wally before digging into his sandwiches.
"Gross." Said Zatanna.
"It's not black tie is it?" asked Superboy completely seriously, causing everyone else to laugh.
Later that day Artemis was riding her motorcycle through the streets of Gotham and as she was passing the docks she saw someone who looked all too familiar, so she took a detour and walked towards them.
"Robin?" she asked cautiously. He turned around and faced her; this was the first time he'd ever seen her without his mask on. He gave her a small smile and turned back to face the water.
"You don't have to call me that anymore." He said as she walked up to him.
"What do I call you?"
"I haven't decided yet."
"Oh come on, you still can't tell me your real name?"
"You'd just laugh at it." He said, somewhat jokingly.
"No I won't, I promise."
"Okay, fine. It's Dick Grayson."
She let out a small chuckle and he glared at her. "Sorry." They stood in comfortable silence for a few more seconds. "Where have you been?"
"You know… all over the place."
"Have you talked to Batman?"
"No." a few seconds later he asked "What do you think about 'Nightwing'?"
"I like it."
"Cool."
"There's a banquet honoring the League on Saturday if you're interested. The team would love to see you."
"Yeah I heard about it. I might stop by, we'll see."
"Okay."
"I should probably go."
"Oh, one last thing."
"If you're gonna tell me about you and Zatanna, I've known for a long time." He patted her on the back and turned to get on his motorcycle and left without another word. Artemis just chuckled before heading home to her apartment to find her mother unconscious on the floor. She ran over to her and checked for a pulse, and after feeling nothing immediately dialed 911, and then called Zatanna.
Artemis was waiting in the hospital when Zatanna, Conner, M'Gann, and Kaldur burst in and all hugged her. After everyone separated, Zatanna grabbed her arm and touched her face. "What happened? I got your call and we all came as soon as possible."
Tears streamed down her face and she looked at the concerned faces of her teammates and friends. "The doctors are saying she had a heart attack. And I don't know if she's gonna make it." Her voice cracked at the end and Zatanna pulled her into another hug.
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, a doctor walked out and addressed Artemis.
"Are you Paula Crock's daughter?"
"Yes."
"Maybe it would be best if I spoke with you in private."
Artemis's entire world froze as she already knew what he was going to say. She could feel the eyes of her friends on her, and she took a step back, almost tripping.
"No…" she said, shaking her head.
"I'm very sorry." Said the doctor as Artemis broke down in Zatanna's arms and was soon surrounded in another hug from all of her friends.